Liverpool-based neoclassical artist and composer, Tom Ashbrook, released his captivating, cinematic new album Nocturnes on 30 June, so we caught up with him to find out all about him and his really quite beautiful music.
Liverpool Noise: For our readers who don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself.
Tom: I’m Tom Ashbrook a 6ft 4 Yorkshireman who you’ve probably spotted a lot heading down Bold Street / in Bold Street Coffee or heading to my best mates studio, Mike Halls from Clean Cut Kid, or the Dispensary for the best Guinness in town!
I’ve been in Liverpool since studying at LIPA, and just love this city having just bought a house near Penny Lane and setting up a studio there.
I’ve played music since the age of 5, classically trained on the piano till 14 and then started listening to Bill Evans and pat Matheny, film scores and Mike Oldfield/ Pink Floyd that got me into synthesis, composition and was very lucky to have a great music A Level teacher and guidance at uni getting me to this point today.
Having toured for 6 years playing Pink Floyd’s music around the world I decided to start writing and producing my own music, which later thankfully got recognised by the great label I’m with today, The Other Songs, and have received amazing support from them being able to develop my own sound and release what I want that’s true to me.
Liverpool Noise: How would you best describe your music?
Tom: I would say I write and record music that comes from such a personal place almost writing diary entries of what’s happening at the time often inspired by working with other mediums such as touring dance companies/ ballet and contemporary. I always write for myself with the original material and if anyone connects with it it’s a bonus, the material is generally crafted around the upright piano and can evolve electronically or layer later with string instruments having great friends as string players I’m a very lucky guy, I suppose you could say it’s emotive/cinematic neoclassical/ slightly electronic orchestral/reflective love of Bon Iver alternative/downtempo chill out dance music. That’s why Spotify struggles to pigeon hole me!
Liverpool Noise: What’s your process for creating music?
Tom: I usually sit in my home studio listening to a lot of different genres, sometimes if I hear a couple of notes or textural parts I’ll sample it and sit at the piano improvising, sometimes left hand on the Moog playing bass and making harmonic structure around that key centre. A lot of time creation comes when I’m in a dance class improvising for a contemporary class as I can really switch off and not overthink the music, I’ll then record voice notes on the phone on specific points that resonate with me. Later crafting around these ideas and working out of different studios in Liverpool recording strings, mixing and later mastering.
Liverpool Noise: Where are you and what are you up to right now?
Tom: In The Dispensary having a Guinness…actually no not until 6.30pm then heading to do a trio gig with my best bills, I’m currently buying a house near Penny Lane and replacing the Mac Pro so saying goodbye to all money, but for exciting things! Currently releasing the new album Nocturnes which is very exciting and prepping the studio with new mics, new upright piano and new hardware to do the next ep all sampling the piano solo and trying something super stripped back. Less is more…I think.
Liverpool Noise: What do you like about Liverpool in general and what do you make of the Liverpool music scene?
Tom: Liverpool has been beaut ever since landing here in 2005, I’ve made best friends here and just love the community and size of the place, the fact I can walk into town in 10 mins from near all the amazing parks and then bump into everyone just nip for the best coffee/ food or a bev is the dream.
The music scene is also incredible with so many live venues and support for music of all genres, every bar seems to support gigs and creates this buzz walking around town. With plenty of studios to record and places to study music it’s such a great network here and enables you to record remotely with so many different instrumentalists and vocalists.
Liverpool Noise: If you had to tell people to go and listen to just one of your songs, which one would you choose?
Tom: Haha, I never force my crying music on anyone but probably All Clear or Peter as they’re super close to me solo piano wise or Sines shows my love of working with the Juno 60 alongside the piano, or listen to the new stuff coming out Dusk or the new one with the amazing Colouring, providing the beaut vocal on for the birds, basically if you could listen to the whole catalogue and let me know what you think I would really appreciate it.
Liverpool Noise: What does the rest of 2023 have in store for you?
Tom: Some real life big chapters! New house with my girlfriend and setting up a new studio in Liverpool, lots of collaborations which is exciting and writing for commissions, sorting a session with Dot from London Grammar, Robot Koch, and lots of remixing of the new album. Then onto prepping something for a bespoke visual live performance and setting up for the next EP. Now time for a Guinness, see you soon!
Follow Tom Ashbrook on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram for updates.
The album Nocturnes is out now and is available to stream on all major streaming platforms here.
Photo Credit: Cal McIntyre ([email protected])
